阅读说明：本技术 成像装置 (Image forming apparatus with a plurality of image forming units ) 是由 田岛宏俊 大畑俊晃 于 2021-04-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种成像装置,包括成像部分、第一收集容器、第二收集容器和进给设备。进给设备包括能够沿与竖直方向交叉的方向从成像部分排出的调色剂的横向进给通道。横向进给通道包括第一排出开口、第二排出开口以及设置在第一排出开口和第二排出开口之间的接收开口,用于接收从成像部分排出的调色剂。进给设备包括能够围绕沿着横向进给通道的旋转轴线旋转的螺旋进给构件,以及用于沿正转方向和反转方向旋转地驱动螺旋进给构件的驱动部分。(The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an image forming portion, a first collecting container, a second collecting container, and a feeding device. The feeding apparatus includes a lateral feeding path of toner that can be discharged from the image forming portion in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction. The lateral feed path includes a first discharge opening, a second discharge opening, and a receiving opening provided between the first discharge opening and the second discharge opening, for receiving the toner discharged from the image forming portion. The feeding apparatus includes a screw feeding member rotatable about a rotation axis along the infeed channel, and a driving portion for rotationally driving the screw feeding member in forward and reverse directions.)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming portion configured to form a toner image;

a first collecting container detachably provided and configured to collect residual toner discharged from the image forming portion;

a second collection container detachably provided and configured to collect residual toner discharged from the image forming portion; and

a feeding device configured to feed the toner discharged from the image forming portion toward the first collecting container and the second collecting container;

wherein the feeding apparatus comprises:

a lateral feed passage capable of feeding the toner discharged from the image forming portion in a direction intersecting a vertical direction, wherein the lateral feed passage includes a first discharge opening provided at one end side of the lateral feed passage with respect to an extending direction of the lateral feed passage and through which the toner is discharged toward the first collection container, a second discharge opening provided at the other end side of the lateral feed passage with respect to the extending direction and through which the toner is discharged toward the second collection container, and a receiving opening provided between the first discharge opening and the second discharge opening and configured to receive the toner discharged from the image forming portion;

a screw feed member rotatable about an axis of rotation along the infeed channel; and

a driving portion configured to rotationally drive the screw feeding member in a normal rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feeding device is capable of feeding the toner in said transverse feeding passage in the direction from said second discharge opening toward said first discharge opening by rotating said feeding member in a normal rotation direction, and capable of feeding the toner in said transverse feeding passage in the direction from said first discharge opening toward said second discharge opening by rotating said feeding member in a reverse rotation direction.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging section includes a first imaging section and a second imaging section, and

wherein the feeding apparatus is provided with a first receiving opening and a second receiving opening through which the toner discharged from the first image forming portion and the toner discharged from the second image forming portion are received, respectively, and the feeding apparatus includes a polymerization feeding passage extending in an extending direction intersecting with a vertical direction and configured to polymerize the toner discharged from the first image forming portion and the toner discharged from the second image forming portion, the polymerization feeding passage being disposed between the first receiving opening and the second receiving opening with respect to the extending direction and configured to discharge the polymerized toner toward the receiving opening provided in the lateral feeding passage.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control the feeding device,

wherein, in a case where the first collection container becomes full when the feeding apparatus feeds the toner to the first collection container during image formation, the controller is configured to be able to control the feeding apparatus to switch a feeding destination of the toner from the first collection container to the second collection container, and to be able to control the image forming portion to continue an image forming operation.

5. The imaging apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a first sensor configured to detect that the first collection container is in a full load condition; and

a second sensor configured to detect that the second collection container is in a full load state,

wherein the controller is configured to switch a feeding destination of the toner from the first collection container to the second collection container in accordance with a detection result of the first sensor and a detection result of the second sensor.

6. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first discrimination mark provided corresponding to the first collection container and configured to discriminate the first collection container;

a second discrimination mark provided corresponding to the second collection container and configured to discriminate the second collection container; and

a notification device configured to notify information prompting a change of the collection container that is full, in a case where one of the first collection container and the second collection container is full.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a common door configured to open and close mounting portions for the first collection container and the second collection container,

wherein the first discrimination mark and the second discrimination mark are displayed inside the common door.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said common door is rotatable at a lower portion thereof about a rotational axis extending in a width direction intersecting with the up-down direction.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a plurality of collecting containers for collecting toner discharged from an image forming portion and a plurality of discharging portions for allowing the toner discharged from the image forming portion to be discharged to each of the collecting containers.

Background

Conventionally, for example, in an electrophotographic type image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a toner image formed on a photosensitive member as an image bearing member with a developer containing toner is transferred onto a transfer receiving member such as a recording material by an electrophotographic type image forming process. Toner (transfer residual toner) remaining on the photosensitive member in the process of transferring the toner image from the photosensitive member onto the transfer receiving member is removed from the surface of the photosensitive member by the cleaning device, and is fed as collected developer by the developer collecting apparatus to the developer collecting container, so the collected developer is accumulated in the developer collecting container. Then, in a case where the inside of the developer collection container is filled with the collected developer or in a similar case, the developer collection container is replaced with an empty developer collection container. Conventionally, in general, when the developer collection container is replaced, it is necessary to stop the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus to stop the feeding of the collected developer by the developer collection device. Therefore, for example, in a business operation in which a large number of continuous prints are desired, there is a problem in that productivity is lowered due to replacement of the developer collecting container.

To solve this problem, a configuration has been disclosed in which: two developer collecting containers are provided so as to be mountable to and dismountable from an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, and collected developer is selectively discharged from any one of two discharging portions for discharging the collected developer into the two collecting containers, respectively (japanese laid-open patent application (JP- ｃA) 2008-83102). In the configuration disclosed in JP-a 2008-. Then, the agitating member is rotated so that the plurality of chambers of the agitating tank successively pass through two openings provided in the agitating tank to communicate with two discharge portions, respectively, thereby discharging the collected developer from the agitating tank. The feeding member rotates clockwise in a case where the collected developer is discharged from a right discharge portion of two discharge portions arranged side by side with respect to the left-right direction; and in the case where the collected developer is discharged from the left discharge portion of the two discharge portions, the feeding member rotates counterclockwise. According to this configuration, at the time of replacing one of the two developer collection containers, if the other developer collection container can collect the collected developer, it is possible to replace the one of the two developer collection containers without stopping the image forming operation.

However, in the configuration disclosed in JP-a 2008-. That is, the plurality of chambers of the agitation tank pass through not only the opening through which the relevant chamber communicates with the discharge portion through which the collected developer is currently discharged, but also the opening through which the relevant chamber communicates with the discharge portion through which the collected developer is not currently discharged.

For this reason, for example, in a state where one developer collection container is detached or the like, the risk of leakage and scattering of the collected developer through the opening of the agitation tank corresponding to the developer collection container is high. In the configuration of JP-a 2008-. Further, when it is intended to strictly prevent leakage and scattering of the collected developer, the structure of the shutter member is rendered complicated and large-sized, thereby rendering the structure of the image forming apparatus complicated and large-sized.

Incidentally, in the above, the collected developer is described as the transfer residual toner removed from the photosensitive member, but the collected developer generated in the image forming apparatus is not limited thereto. For example, the collected developer may also be transfer residual toner removed from an intermediate transfer member that feeds a toner image primarily transferred from a photosensitive member as a first image bearing member onto a recording material to effect secondary transfer and serves as a second image bearing member. Further, for example, the collected developer may also be a developer (which may contain a toner and a carrier) or the like discharged from a developing device provided for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member.

Disclosure of Invention

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing a risk of leakage and scattering of collected developer, in a configuration in which: the collected developer is selectively collected in a plurality of developer collecting containers.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion configured to form a toner image; a first collection container detachably provided and configured to collect residual toner discharged from the image forming portion; a second collection container detachably provided and configured to collect residual toner discharged from the image forming portion; and a feeding apparatus configured to feed the toner discharged from the image forming portion toward the first collecting container and the second collecting container, wherein the feeding apparatus includes: a lateral feed passage capable of feeding the toner discharged from the image forming portion in a direction intersecting with a vertical direction, wherein the lateral feed passage includes a first discharge opening provided at one end side of the lateral feed passage with respect to an extending direction of the lateral feed passage and through which the toner is discharged toward the first collection container, a second discharge opening provided at the other end side of the lateral feed passage with respect to the extending direction and through which the toner is discharged toward the second collection container, and a receiving opening provided between the first discharge opening and the second discharge opening and configured to receive the toner discharged from the image forming portion; a screw feed member rotatable about an axis of rotation along the infeed channel; and a driving portion configured to rotationally drive the screw feeding member in the normal rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a discharge pattern in which the collected developer is discharged from the image forming portion.

Parts (a) and (b) of fig. 3 are schematic perspective views of the image forming apparatus for illustrating a mounting mode of the developer collection container.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the developer collecting apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the developer collecting apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line X-X of fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line Y-Y of fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a part of the developer collecting apparatus in a state where the developer collecting container is detached.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the developer collecting apparatus for explaining the developer collecting operation.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the developer collecting apparatus for explaining the developer collecting operation.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing a control mode of the developer collecting apparatus.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing an outline of a routine of the developer collecting operation.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a developer collecting apparatus of another embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view similar to that taken along the X-X line of fig. 4 of the developer collecting apparatus of fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view similar to that taken along the Y-Y line of fig. 4 of the developer collecting apparatus of fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing a drive transmitting portion of the developer collecting apparatus of fig. 13.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view for explaining a developer collecting operation in the developer collecting device of fig. 13.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view for explaining a developer collecting operation in the developer collecting device of fig. 13.

Detailed Description

A developer collecting device and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[ example 1]

1. Image forming apparatus with a plurality of image forming units

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view (a cross-section substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis direction of a photosensitive drum 101 described later) of an image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment is a tandem type printer capable of forming a full color image by employing an electrophotographic type and an intermediate transfer type.

Incidentally, regarding the image forming apparatus 100 and its constituent elements, the front side on the drawing sheet of fig. 1 is referred to as the "front" side, and the rear side on the drawing sheet of fig. 1 is referred to as the "rear" side. An operator such as a user or a serviceman generally performs the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 from the front side of the image forming apparatus 100. The front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus 100 is substantially parallel to the rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1 described later. In addition, with respect to the imaging apparatus 100 and its constituent elements, the left and right sides when viewed from the front side are referred to as the left and right sides, respectively. In addition, regarding the imaging apparatus 100 and its constituent elements, the up-down direction refers to the up-down direction with respect to the direction of gravity, but does not mean only straight up and straight down, and also includes the upper and lower sides of a horizontal plane passing through the relevant elements or positions.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes first to fourth stations SY, SM, SC, and SK as a plurality of image forming devices for forming toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. As for elements having the same or corresponding functions and configurations in the respective stations SY, SM, SC, and SK, suffixes Y, M, C and K representing elements of the relevant colors are omitted, and these elements will be collectively described in some cases. In the present embodiment, the station S is configured by including a photosensitive drum 101, a charging device 102, an exposure device 103, a developing device 104, a primary transfer roller 105, a drum cleaning device 106, and the like. In the present embodiment, a plurality of (4 in the present embodiment) stations SY, SM, SC, and SK are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the direction of gravity, particularly, in a substantially horizontal direction in the present embodiment.

A photosensitive drum 101 as a first image bearing member, which is a rotatable drum-shaped photosensitive member (electrophotographic type photosensitive member), is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow R1 in fig. 1. In the present embodiment, the four photosensitive drums 101 are arranged side by side in a substantially horizontal direction. The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 101 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity (negative in the present embodiment) by a charging device 102 as a charging means.

The surface of the charged photosensitive drum 101 is subjected to scanning exposure by an exposure device (laser scanner) 103 as an exposure means in accordance with image information, thereby forming an electrostatic image (electrostatic latent image) on the photosensitive drum 101. The electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive drum 101 is developed (visualized) by supplying toner from a developing device 104 as a developing means, thereby forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 101. In the present embodiment, toner charged to the same polarity as the charge polarity of the photosensitive drum 101 (positive in the present embodiment) is deposited on an exposed portion (image portion) of the photosensitive drum 101, which decreases the absolute value of the potential by exposure to light after the photosensitive drum 101 is uniformly charged. In the present embodiment, the normal charging polarity of the toner (which is the charging polarity of the toner during development) is a negative polarity.

An intermediate transfer belt 107 as a second image bearing member (which is an intermediate transfer member constituted by an endless belt) is disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 101. The intermediate transfer belt 107 extends around a driving roller 171, a tension roller 172, and a secondary transfer opposing roller 173 serving as a plurality of tension rollers (support rollers), and is tensioned with a predetermined tension. The driving roller 171 is rotationally driven, and the driving force is transmitted to the intermediate transfer belt 107, so that the intermediate transfer belt 107 is rotated (circularly moved) in the arrow R2 direction in fig. 1. On the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 107, primary transfer rollers 105 (which are roller-type primary transfer members) as primary transfer means are provided corresponding to the respective photosensitive drums 101. Each primary transfer roller 105 is pressed (urged) against the associated photosensitive drum 101 on the intermediate transfer belt 107, thereby forming a primary transfer portion (primary transfer nip) N1 where the photosensitive drum 101 and the intermediate transfer belt 107 contact each other.

The toner image formed on the rotating photosensitive drum 101 is primarily transferred onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 107 by the primary transfer roller 105. In the primary transfer process, a primary transfer voltage, which is a direct-current voltage having a polarity opposite to the normal charge polarity of the toner, is applied to the primary transfer roller 105. For example, in a full-color image forming process, toner images of respective colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black formed on the respective photosensitive drums 101 are successively transferred in superposition onto the intermediate transfer belt 107.

At a position opposing the secondary transfer opposing roller 173 at the outer peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 107, a secondary transfer roller 108 (which is a roller-type secondary transfer member) as a secondary transfer means is provided. The secondary transfer roller 108 is pressed (urged) against the intermediate transfer belt 107 toward the secondary transfer opposing roller 173, and forms a secondary transfer portion (secondary transfer nip) N2 in which the intermediate transfer belt 107 and the secondary transfer roller 108 contact each other.

The toner image formed on the above-described intermediate transfer belt 107 is secondarily transferred onto a recording material (recording medium, sheet) P (e.g., recording sheet) which is nipped and fed by the intermediate transfer belt 107 and the secondary transfer roller 108 at a secondary transfer portion N2. In the secondary transfer process, a secondary transfer voltage, which is a direct-current voltage having a polarity opposite to the normal charging polarity of the toner, is applied to the secondary transfer roller 108. The recording material P is accommodated in a cassette 111 as a recording material accommodating portion. The recording material P is supplied from the cassette 111 to the secondary transfer portion N2 by the recording material feeding apparatus 112. The recording material feeding apparatus 112 includes a pickup roller 112a, a feeding roller pair 112b, a conveying roller pair 112c, a registration roller pair 112d, and the like. The pickup roller 112a sends out the recording materials P one by one from the cassette 111. The feeding roller pair 112b and the conveying roller pair 112c feed and convey the recording material P fed from the cassette 111. The registration roller pair 112d not only stops the recording material P conveyed by the feeding roller pair 112b and the conveying roller pair 112c once, but also sends the recording material P toward the secondary transfer portion N2 in synchronization with the timing of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 107.

The recording material P to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 113. The fixing device 113 includes a fixing roller 113a provided with a heat source and a pressing roller 113b in pressure contact with the fixing roller 113 a. The fixing device 113 heats and presses the recording material P bearing the unfixed toner image by nipping and conveying (feeding) the recording material P between the fixing roller 113a and the pressing roller 113b, so that the fixing device 113 fixes (melts and adheres) the toner image onto the recording material P. The recording material P to which the toner image is fixed is discharged (output) by a discharge roller 114 onto a tray 115 provided outside the apparatus main assembly 110 of the image forming apparatus 100.

In addition, toner (primary transfer residual toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 101 during primary transfer without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 107 is removed from the photosensitive drum 101 by a drum cleaning apparatus 106 as photosensitive member cleaning means and collected. As shown in fig. 2, the drum cleaning device 106 includes a drum cleaning blade 161 as a cleaning member and formed of an elastic member, and a drum cleaning container 162 as a toner collecting portion. The drum cleaning device 106 scrapes off primary transfer residual toner from the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 101 by a drum cleaning blade 161 arranged in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 101, and accommodates the toner in a drum cleaning container 162.

In addition, on the other outer peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 107, at a position opposing the tension roller 172, a belt cleaning apparatus 109 as an intermediate transfer belt cleaning apparatus is provided. The toner (secondary transfer residual toner) remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 107 without being transferred to the recording material P in the secondary transfer process is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 107 by a belt cleaning apparatus 109 and collected. The belt cleaning apparatus 109 includes a belt cleaning blade 191 as a cleaning member and formed of an elastic member, and a belt cleaning container 192 as a toner collecting portion. The belt cleaning apparatus 109 scrapes off the secondary transfer residual toner from the surface of the rotating intermediate transfer belt 107 by a belt cleaning blade 191 arranged in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 107, and accommodates the toner in a belt cleaning container 192.

The primary transfer residual toner contained in the drum cleaning container 162 is fed by a not-shown feeding means provided in the drum cleaning container 162. Further, the primary transfer residual toner is discharged through a drum cleaning container discharge opening 162a as an opening, and sent to a developer collecting apparatus 1 described later as a collected developer. Further, the secondary transfer residual toner contained in the belt cleaning container 192 is fed by a not-shown feeding means provided inside the belt cleaning container 192. Then, the secondary transfer residual toner is discharged through the belt cleaning container discharge opening 192a as an opening, and sent to a developer collecting apparatus 1 described later as a collected developer.

In the present embodiment, in each station S, the photosensitive drum 101 and the charging device 102, the developing device 104, and the cleaning device 106, which are process means that can act on the photosensitive drum 101, integrally constitute a process cartridge 117. The process cartridge 117 is configured to be mountable in the apparatus main assembly 110, and detachable from the apparatus main assembly 110 by being pulled out to the front side of the image forming apparatus 100. The process cartridges 117 of the respective colors have substantially the same structure except that the colors of the toners accommodated in the developing devices 104 are different from each other.

Further, in the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 107, the tension rollers 171 to 173 of the intermediate transfer belt 107, the respective primary transfer rollers 105, the belt cleaning device 109, and the like are integrally assembled into one unit, thus constituting the intermediate transfer unit 170. The intermediate transfer unit 170 is configured to be mountable in the apparatus main assembly 110, and is detachable from the apparatus main assembly 110 by being pulled out from the right side of the image forming apparatus 100.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes toner cartridges 116Y, 116M, 116C, and 116K that accommodate the developer to be supplied to the developing devices 104Y, 104M, 104C, and 104K (supply developer). Each toner cartridge 116 is configured to be mountable in the apparatus main assembly 110, and is detachable from the apparatus main assembly 110 by being pulled out to the front side of the image forming apparatus 100. The toner cartridges 116 for the respective colors have substantially the same structure except that the colors of the toners accommodated therein are different from each other. Each toner cartridge 116 includes a supply developer accommodating portion 116a for accommodating a supply developer and a feed screw 116b as a supply member for supplying the supply developer in the supply developer accommodating portion 116a to the developing device 104.

Here, in the present embodiment, the developing device 104 uses a two-component developer containing toner (non-magnetic toner particles) and carrier (magnetic carrier particles) as the developer. As shown in fig. 2, the developing device 104 includes a rotatable developing sleeve 141 as a developer carrying member and a developer container 142 for accommodating (accommodating) a developer. The developing device 104 carries the developer containing the toner and the carrier on the developing sleeve 141, and feeds the developer to a developing position where the photosensitive drum 101 and the developing sleeve 141 are opposed to each other by rotation of the developing sleeve 141. The developing device 104 supplies toner in the developer to the electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 101 at a developing position, thereby forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 101. Further, the developer accommodated in the developing container 142 and the supply developer supplied from the toner cartridge 116 are fed and circulated while being agitated by an unillustrated agitating and feeding means provided in the developing container 142. In the present embodiment, the supply developer supplied from the toner cartridge 116 to the developing device 104 contains toner and carrier. In addition, the developer (containing toner and carrier) that becomes excessive due to the supply of the supplied developer and exists inside the developing container 142 is discharged through the developing container discharge opening 142a as an opening with the circulation and feeding of the developer inside the developing container 142, so that the developer is sent as a collected developer to the developer collecting apparatus 1 described later.

In the present embodiment, an image forming portion G, which is a mechanism portion G for forming an image on a recording material P by using a developer, is constituted by the respective stations S, the intermediate transfer unit 170, the secondary transfer roller 108, and the fixing device 113. Incidentally, fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a discharge pattern of the collected developer from the image forming portion G (the drum cleaning device 106, the developing device 104, and the belt cleaning device 109 of each station S).

2. Developer collecting container

In the present embodiment, the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R are provided as a plurality of developer collecting containers which are mountable in and dismountable from the apparatus main assembly 110 of the image forming apparatus 100. In the present embodiment, the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are disposed side by side in a substantially horizontal direction within the apparatus main assembly 110. In particular, in the present embodiment, the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R have substantially the same structure, and are arranged in parallel at substantially the same height (level) with respect to the up-down direction within the apparatus main assembly 110. Further, the collected developer sent from the image forming portion G to the developer collecting device 1 described later is selectively fed and accumulated into any one of the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R. In the present embodiment, as described above, the collected developer is discharged from the drum cleaning device 106 and the developing device 104 of the station S and from the belt cleaning device 109 in the image forming portion G. In addition, in the case where either one of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R is filled with the collected developer inside, the feeding destination of the collected developer is switched to the other container, and the container filled with the collected developer is replaced with an empty container.

Incidentally, the arrangement of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R side by side in the substantially horizontal direction includes a case where the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R at least partially overlap each other with respect to the up-down direction.

Each of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R is a box-like container having a predetermined length with respect to the longitudinal direction and the width direction (short-side direction), a predetermined thickness (height) with respect to the thickness direction, and a substantially rectangular cross section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction is a direction in which the containers are arranged in the apparatus main assembly 110 in the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus 100. Further, the short side direction is a direction in which the container is arranged in the apparatus main assembly 110 in the left-right direction of the image forming apparatus 100. Further, the thickness direction is a direction in which the container is arranged in the apparatus main assembly 110 in the up-down direction of the image forming apparatus 100. Inside the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R, hollow collected developer accommodating portions 11L and 11R (see fig. 6 and 7) each accommodating therein the collected developer are provided, respectively. As described above, in the present embodiment, the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R have substantially the same structure, and each container can be mounted not only on the left side but also on the right side within the apparatus main assembly 110. In the present embodiment, in the apparatus main assembly 110, the first developer collection container 10L is mounted on the left side, and the second developer collection container 10R is mounted on the right side.

Parts (a) and (b) of fig. 3 are schematic perspective views of the appearance of the image forming apparatus viewed from an oblique front side for explaining the mounting mode of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R. Part (a) of fig. 3 shows a state in which container exchange door 118, described later, is closed, and part (b) of fig. 3 shows a state in which container exchange door 118 is opened and first and second developer collection containers can be attached and detached by container exchange door 118. On the front side of the image forming apparatus 100, a container replacement door 118 is provided, and this container replacement door 118 not only constitutes a part of the housing cover of the image forming apparatus 100, but also enables the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R to be attached and detached. In the present embodiment, the container replacement door 118 is constituted by a single (common) openable (closable) member by which both the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R can be attached and detached. In the present embodiment, container exchange door 118 has a substantially rectangular shape extending in the left-right direction when viewed from the front side. Also, in the present embodiment, the container exchange door 118 is configured to be rotatable at a lower portion thereof about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction intersecting the up-down direction. In addition, the container exchange door 118 can be opened and closed by rotating its upper side at the lower side with respect to the up-down direction about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction by an operation of an operator.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 3, container exchange door 118 presents a single-sided plate-like appearance in the closed state, and its dimensions with respect to the left-right direction and the up-down direction are equal to front panel 111a of cassette 111 disposed below in the vicinity of container exchange door 118. For this reason, a complicated appearance due to the provision of two containers (first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R) is suppressed. Also, by opening the single container replacement door 118, attachment and detachment of any of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R can be performed. For this reason, wasteful operations due to erroneous opening and closing of the door, which may occur in the case where each of the plurality of developer collecting containers is provided independently with the container replacement door, can be suppressed.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 3, by opening the container replacement door 118, the operator can access either of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R. The apparatus main assembly 110 is provided with first and second container mounting portions 119L and 119R in which the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are mounted, respectively. The first and second container mounting portions 119L and 119R are provided with first and second container supporting portions 120L and 120R, respectively, which extend in the front-rear direction so as to support the lower sides of the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R, respectively. The first and second container mounting portions 119L and 119R have rail-like structures (not shown) in which, for example, the first and second container supporting portions 120L and 120R are engaged with the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R, respectively. Thereby, the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are slidable (movable) from the front side to the rear side, and thus can be arranged at a predetermined position within the apparatus main assembly 110. Further, the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are slidable (movable) from the rear side to the front side, and are thus pulled out from a predetermined position within the apparatus main assembly 110, so that the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R can be easily detached from the apparatus main assembly 110.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 3, discrimination display portions 121L and 121R are provided on the inner surface of container exchange door 118 so that the operator can visually recognize that container exchange door 118 is in an open state. The discrimination display portions 121L and 121R are arranged at positions corresponding to the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R, respectively, with respect to the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the left discrimination display part 121L is constituted by a stamp on which characters such as "container 1" (or "left container") are displayed for discriminating the first developer collection container 10L. Further, in the present embodiment, the discrimination display portion 121R on the right side is constituted by a stamp on which characters such as "container 2" (or "right container") are displayed for discriminating the second developer collection container 10R. These discrimination display portions 121L and 121R are used to help discriminate the relevant container when a prompt is displayed in an operation portion 130 (fig. 11) of the image forming apparatus 100 described later to prompt the operator to replace any of the developer collection containers 10L and 10R. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, discrimination display portions 121L and 121R are provided on the inner surface of container exchange door 118, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The discrimination display portions 121L and 121R may also be provided on the front surface of the panel adjacent to the first and second container mounting portions 119L and 119R, for example, corresponding to the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R, respectively.

3. Developer collecting apparatus

The structure of the developer collecting apparatus 1 in the present embodiment will be described.

< basic Structure >

Fig. 4 is a front view of the developer collecting apparatus 1 in the present embodiment. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the developer collecting device 1 in the present embodiment as viewed from an oblique front side. In fig. 4 and 5, the collected developer feeding passage 2 in the developer collecting device 1 is mainly illustrated, and the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R connected to the developer collecting device 1 are also illustrated.

In the present embodiment, the collected developer feeding path 2 of the developer collecting apparatus 1 roughly includes an upstream feeding portion 3 and a downstream feeding portion 4. The upstream feeding portion 3 receives the collected developer discharged from the image forming portion G (the drum cleaning device 106 and the developing device 104 and the belt cleaning device 109 of each station S). The downstream feeding portion 4 receives the collected developer from the upstream feeding portion 3 and feeds the collected developer to the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R.

< upstream feeding section >

Referring to fig. 4 and 5, the upstream feeding portion 3 includes first to fifth discharge pipes 31 to 35 and a main discharge pipe 36. In the present embodiment, the first to fifth discharge pipes 31 to 35 and the main discharge pipe 36 are provided in the vicinity of the rear end portion in the apparatus main assembly 110.

The first to fifth discharge pipes 31 to 35 as the discharge feed portions are hollow tubular members extending in the up-down direction in the substantially gravitational direction.

The first discharge duct 31 is provided with a first discharge receiving opening 31a and a second discharge receiving opening 31b, the first discharge receiving opening 31a being an opening connected to the belt cleaning container discharge opening 192a (fig. 2), the second discharge receiving opening 31b being an opening connected to the developing container discharge opening 142a (fig. 2) for yellow. The second discharge pipe 32 is provided with a first discharge receiving opening 32a connected to a drum cleaning container discharge opening 162a (fig. 2) for yellow, and a second discharge receiving opening 32b as an opening connected to a developing container discharge opening 142a (fig. 2) for magenta. The third discharge pipe 33 is provided with a first discharge receiving opening 33a connected to a drum cleaning container discharge opening 162a (fig. 2) for magenta, and a second discharge receiving opening 33b as an opening connected to a developing container discharge opening 142a (fig. 2) for cyan. The fourth discharge pipe 34 is provided with a first discharge receiving opening 34a connected to a drum cleaning container discharge opening 162a (fig. 2) for cyan, and a second discharge receiving opening 34b as an opening connected to a developing container discharge opening 142a (fig. 2) for black. In addition, the fifth discharge pipe 35 is provided with a discharge receiving opening 35a connected to a drum cleaning container discharge opening 162a (fig. 2) for black. Further, lower end portions of the first to fifth discharge pipes 31 to 35 are connected to the main discharge pipe 36 so that respective interiors of the first to fifth discharge pipes 31 to 35 and the interior of the main discharge pipe 36 communicate with each other so that the collected developer can be delivered therebetween.

In the present embodiment, the main discharge pipe 36 is a hollow tubular member extending in the left-right direction in a substantially horizontal direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, the main discharge pipe 36 is constituted by a circular pipe having a substantially elliptical cross section substantially perpendicular to the extending direction (axial direction) thereof. The first to fifth discharge pipes 31 to 35 are connected to an upper side portion of the main discharge pipe 36, respectively, and the interior of the main discharge pipe 36 and the respective interiors of the first to fifth discharge pipes 31 to 35 communicate with each other to allow delivery of the collected developer. Inside (in the hollow portion) of the main discharge pipe 36, a discharge screw 37 as a discharge feed member is provided. In the present embodiment, the discharge screw 37 is constituted by a shaftless screw conveyor (spring auger) rotatable about a rotation shaft extending in the left-right direction along the extending direction (substantially horizontal direction) of the main discharge pipe 36. The discharge screw 37 feeds the collected developer inside the main discharge pipe 36 while agitating the collected developer. In addition, a lower portion of the main discharge pipe 36 between opposite ends of the main discharge pipe 36 with respect to the extending direction is provided with a main discharge opening 36 a. The main discharge opening 36a is an opening through which the collected developer is dropped and discharged from the main discharge pipe 36 and then delivered to the downstream feeding portion 4. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the main discharge opening 36a is formed at the following position with respect to the horizontal direction in a cross section substantially perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus 100. That is, with respect to the horizontal direction, the main discharge opening 36a is formed at a lower side portion of the main discharge pipe 36 so as to be located between first and second lateral pipe discharge openings 42b and 42c provided in the lateral pipes 42 of the downstream feeding portion 4 described later.

The collected developer sent to the first to fifth discharge pipes 31 to 35 falls into the interiors (hollow portions) of the first to fifth discharge pipes 31 to 35 by gravity, and is moved to the main discharge pipe 36. The collected developers dropped in the main discharge pipe 36 and merged with each other therein are fed to the main discharge opening 36a by the discharge screw 37. In the present embodiment, the discharge screw 37 has a spiral shape such that the spiral directions of its left first portion 37a and right second portion 37b with respect to the rotation axis direction are different, being bounded by a position corresponding to the main discharge opening 36 a. The discharge screw 37 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction by transmitting a rotational driving force from an unillustrated driving source (discharge screw driving portion) provided in the apparatus main assembly 110 via a drive transmission member (single gear or a plurality of gears or the like) 125. Thereby, the collected developer sent from the first and second discharge pipes 31 and 32 to the main discharge pipe 36 is fed by the first portion 37a of the discharge screw 37 in the direction from the left side to the right side and is sent to the main discharge opening 36 a. On the other hand, the collected developer sent from the third to fifth discharge pipes 33 to 35 to the main discharge pipe 36 is fed in the direction from the right side to the left side by the second portion 37b of the discharge screw 37 and is sent to the main discharge opening 36 a. The collected developer fed to the main discharge opening 36a falls through the main discharge opening 36a, and then moves toward a vertical pipe 41 of the downstream feeding portion 4 described later.

< downstream feeding section >

Referring to fig. 4 and 5, the downstream feeding section 4 includes a vertical pipe 41, a lateral pipe 42, and first and second collecting pipes 44L and 44R. The vertical pipe 41 and the lateral pipe 42 are arranged in the apparatus main assembly 110 in the vicinity of the rear side end portion. The first and second collecting pipes 44L and 44R extend and are arranged from the rear side to the front side above the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R arranged in the apparatus main assembly 110, respectively.

The developer collecting device 1 includes a vertical pipe 41 serving as a tubular vertical feeding portion for guiding the collected developer discharged from the image forming portion G from above downward with respect to the direction of gravity. In the present embodiment, the vertical pipe 41 is a hollow tubular member extending vertically in a substantially gravitational direction. Incidentally, the vertical pipe 41 may also be inclined with respect to the direction of gravity. Further, in the present embodiment, the collected developer is dropped and moved by gravity inside the vertical pipe 41, but a feeding member for feeding the collected developer may be provided inside the vertical pipe 41. The main discharge pipe 36 of the upstream feeding portion 3 is connected to an upper side portion of the vertical pipe 41. In addition, at an upper side end portion of the vertical pipe 41, a vertical pipe receiving opening 41a is formed at a position corresponding to the main discharge opening 36a of the main discharge pipe 36, the vertical pipe receiving opening 41a being an opening through which the collected developer discharged through the main discharge opening 36a is received by the vertical pipe 41. Thereby, the interior of the main discharge pipe 36 and the interior of the vertical pipe 41 communicate with each other through the main discharge opening 36a and the vertical pipe receiving opening 41 a. In addition, at a lower side end portion of the vertical pipe 41, a vertical pipe discharge opening 41b is formed, which is an opening through which the collected developer drops and is discharged from the vertical pipe 41 by gravity, and then is conveyed to the lateral pipe 42.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the vertical pipe discharge opening 41a and the vertical pipe discharge opening 41b are formed at the following positions with respect to the horizontal direction in the cross section substantially perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus 100. That is, with respect to the horizontal direction, the vertical pipe discharge opening 41a and the vertical pipe discharge opening 41b are formed in the vertical pipe 41 so as to be located between the first and second lateral pipe discharge openings 42b and 42c provided in the lateral pipe 42 described later.

The developer collecting device 1 includes a lateral pipe 42 as a tubular lateral feeding portion capable of guiding the collected developer fed through the inside of the vertical pipe 41 toward the first developer collecting container 10L and the second developer collecting container 10R in a direction intersecting with the direction of gravity. The lateral pipe 42 is a hollow tubular member extending in the left-right direction in a substantially horizontal direction. Incidentally, the lateral pipe 42 may also be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, the lateral tube 42 is constituted by a circular tube having a substantially circular cross section substantially perpendicular to the extending direction (axial direction) thereof. The vertical tubes 42 are connected to an upper side portion of the lateral tube 42 between opposite ends of the lateral tube 42 with respect to the extending direction. In addition, at the upper side end portion of the lateral pipe 42, at a position corresponding to the vertical pipe discharge opening 41b of the vertical pipe 41, a lateral pipe receiving opening 42a is formed, which lateral pipe receiving opening 42a is an opening through which the collected developer discharged through the vertical pipe discharge opening 41b is received by the lateral pipe 42. Thereby, the inside of the vertical tube 41 and the inside of the lateral tube 42 communicate with each other through the vertical tube discharge opening 41b and the lateral tube receiving opening 42 a. In addition, at lower side end portions of the lateral pipes 42 on opposite sides of the lateral pipes 42 with respect to the extending direction, first and second lateral pipe discharge openings 42b and 42c are provided, respectively. These first and second lateral pipe discharge openings 42b and 42c are openings for delivering the collected developer to the first and second collection pipes 44L and 44R, respectively, by dropping and discharging the collected developer from the lateral pipe 42 by gravity. The first lateral pipe discharge opening 42b is formed in the vicinity of a left side end portion (first end portion) of the lateral pipe 42, and the second lateral pipe discharge opening 42c is formed in the vicinity of a right side end portion (second end portion) of the lateral pipe 42. Here, the above-described lateral-tube receiving opening 42a is provided in the lateral tube 42 so as to be located between the first and second lateral-tube discharge openings 42b and 42c with respect to the horizontal direction in a cross section substantially perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the lateral pipe 42 is provided with a first lateral pipe discharge opening 42b, which is provided at a first end side with respect to the extending direction of the lateral pipe 42, for discharging the collected developer from the lateral pipe 42 toward the first developer collection container 10L. Further, the lateral pipe 42 is provided with a second lateral pipe discharge opening 42c, which is provided on a second end portion side opposite to the first end portion side with respect to the extending direction of the lateral pipe 42, for discharging the collected developer from the lateral pipe 42 toward the second developer collection container 10R. In addition, the lateral duct 42 is provided with a lateral duct receiving opening 42a, the lateral duct receiving opening 42a being provided between the first lateral duct discharge opening 42b and the second lateral duct discharge opening 42c with respect to the extending direction of the lateral duct 42, for discharging the collected developer from the vertical duct 41 to the lateral duct 42.

Inside (in the hollow portion) of the lateral pipe 42, a feed screw 43 as a feed member is provided. In the present embodiment, the feed screw 43 is constituted by a shaftless screw conveyor (spring auger) that is rotatable about a rotation shaft extending in the left-right direction along the extending direction (substantially horizontal direction) of the lateral pipe 42. In the present embodiment, the feed screw 43 has a spiral shape such that the winding direction is one direction. The feed screw 43 feeds the collected developer located in the lateral pipe 42 while agitating the collected developer. The feed screw 43 is rotationally driven by transmitting a rotational driving force from the driving portion 5. In the present embodiment, the driving portion 5 is constituted by including a driving motor 51 as a driving source, and a driving power train (a single gear or a plurality of gears, etc.) 52 for transmitting a driving force from the driving motor 51 to the feed screw 43. In the present embodiment, the drive motor 51 is disposed at the right side portion of the lateral pipe 42, and the drive transmission 52 is connected to the right side portion of the feed screw 43. The drive motor 51 of the drive section 5 is rotatable in the normal rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction. Thereby, the drive portion 5 can rotate the feed screw 43 in the first direction and the second direction opposite to the first direction. As described above, the feed screw 43 has a spiral shape with the winding direction being one direction, and is rotatable in the first direction so that the feed screw 43 feeds the collected developer inside the lateral pipe 42 from the right end (second end) side to the left end (first end) side. In addition, by the rotation in the second direction, the feed screw 43 feeds the collected developer inside the lateral pipe 42 from the left end (first end) side to the right end (second end) side. Therefore, the developer collecting device 1 includes a feed screw 43 for feeding the collected developer inside the lateral pipe 42. The feed screw 43 is provided with a spiral portion in the winding direction as follows so that the collected developer is fed in the following manner. That is, the feed screw 43 rotates in the first direction about the rotation axis along the extending direction of the lateral pipe 42, thereby feeding the collected developer in the direction from the second end portion side toward the first end portion side along the rotation axis. Further, the feed screw 43 is rotatable about the rotation axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby feeding the collected developer along the rotation axis in a direction from the first end portion side toward the second end portion side. Further, the developer collecting apparatus 1 includes a driving portion 5 capable of rotationally driving the feed screw 43 in the first and second directions.

The developer collecting device 1 includes a first collecting pipe 44L as a tubular first collecting and feeding portion for guiding the collected developer discharged through the first lateral pipe discharge opening 42b toward the first developer collecting container 10L. Incidentally, the first collection pipe 44L may also be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the first collection pipe 44L is a hollow tubular member extending in a substantially horizontal direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, the first collection pipe 44L is constituted by a circular pipe having a substantially circular cross section substantially perpendicular to the extending direction (axial direction) thereof. The transverse tubes 42 are connected to an upper side portion of the first collection tube 44L at a rear-side end with respect to the extending direction of the first collection tube 44L. Further, at an upper side portion of the first collection pipe 44L, a first collection receiving opening 44aL is formed at a position corresponding to the first lateral pipe discharge opening 42b of the lateral pipe 42. The first collection-receiving opening 44aL is an opening for allowing the collected developer discharged through the first lateral pipe discharge opening 42b to be received by the first collection pipe 44L. Thus, the interior of the lateral tube 42 and the interior of the first collection tube 44L communicate with each other through the first lateral tube discharge opening 42b and the first collection-receiving opening 44 aL. In addition, a first collection discharge opening 44bL is formed at a lower portion of the first collection pipe 44L located at the front-side end portion with respect to the extending direction of the first collection pipe 44L. The first collection discharge opening 44bL is an opening for allowing the collected developer to be delivered from the first collection pipe 44L to the first developer collection container 10L by dropping and discharging the collected developer by gravity. Therefore, the first collection pipe 44L includes a first collection receiving opening 44aL provided at one end side with respect to the extending direction of the first collection pipe 44L for allowing the collected developer discharged through the first lateral pipe discharge opening 44bL to be received by the first collection pipe 44L. Further, the first collection pipe 44L includes a first collection receiving opening 44bL provided at the other end side with respect to the end of the first collection pipe 44L for allowing the collected developer to be discharged from the first collection pipe 44L toward the first developer collection container 10L.

Inside (in a hollow portion) of the first collection pipe 44L, a first collection screw 45L as a first collection feeding member is provided. In the present embodiment, the first collection screw 45L is constituted by a shaftless screw conveyor (spring auger) rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction along the extending direction (substantially horizontal direction) of the first collection pipe 44L. In the present embodiment, the first collection screw 45L has a spiral shape having the winding direction in one direction. The first collection screw 45L feeds the collected developer in the first collection pipe 44L while agitating the collected developer. As shown in fig. 7, the first collection screw 45L is rotationally driven by transmitting a rotational driving force from the first collection driving portion 6L. In the present embodiment, the first collection driving portion 6L is constituted by including a first collection driving motor 61L as a driving source and a first collection driving power train (single gear or a plurality of gears or the like) 62L for transmitting the driving force from the first collection driving motor 61L to the first collection screw 45L. In the present embodiment, the first collection drive motor 61L is disposed in the vicinity of the rear-side end portion below the first collection pipe 44L, and the first collection drive power train 62L is connected to the rear-side end portion of the first collection screw 45L. The first collection driving motor 61L of the first collection driving portion 6L rotates in a predetermined direction. Thereby, the first collection driving portion 6L rotationally drives the first collection screw 45L in a predetermined direction. As described above, the first collection screw 45L has a spiral shape having the winding direction in one direction, and rotates in a predetermined direction, and thus feeds the collected developer from the rear end side toward the front end side in the first collection pipe 44L. Therefore, the developer collecting device 1 includes a first collecting screw 45L for feeding the collected developer in the first collecting pipe 44L. The first collection screw 45L includes a spiral portion having the following winding direction so that the collected developer is fed in the following manner. That is, the first collection screw 45L rotates in a predetermined direction about the rotation axis along the extending direction of the first collection pipe 44L, thereby feeding the collected developer from one end portion side (rear end portion side) toward the other end portion side (front end portion side) along the rotation axis. In addition, in the present embodiment, the developer collecting apparatus 1 includes the first collection driving portion 6L for rotationally driving the first collection screw 45L.

Further, the developer collecting device 1 includes a second collecting pipe 44R as a second collecting and feeding portion of a pipe shape for guiding the collected developer discharged through the second lateral pipe discharge opening 42c toward the second developer collecting container 10R. In the present embodiment, the second collection pipe 44R is a hollow tubular member extending in a substantially horizontal direction. Incidentally, the second collection pipe 44R may also be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, the second collection pipe 44R is constituted by a circular pipe having a substantially circular cross section substantially perpendicular to the extending direction (axial direction) thereof. The transverse tubes 42 are connected to an upper side portion of the second collection tube 44R at a rear-side end with respect to the extending direction of the second collection tube 44R. In addition, at an upper side portion of the second collection pipe 44R, a second collection receiving opening 44aR is formed at a position corresponding to the second lateral pipe discharge opening 42c of the lateral pipe 42. The second collection reception opening 44aR is an opening for allowing the collected developer discharged through the second lateral pipe discharge opening 42c to be received by the second collection pipe 44R. Thereby, the interior of the lateral tube 42 and the interior of the second collection tube 44R communicate with each other through the second lateral tube discharge opening 42c and the second collection reception opening 44 aR. In addition, a second collection discharge opening 44bR is formed at a lower portion of the second collection pipe 44R located at the front-side end portion with respect to the extending direction of the second collection pipe 44R. This second collection discharge opening 44bR is an opening for allowing the collected developer to be delivered from the second collection pipe 44R to the second developer collection container 10R by dropping and discharging the collected developer by gravity. Therefore, the second collection pipe 44R includes a second collection receiving opening 44aR provided at one end side with respect to the extending direction of the second collection pipe 44R for allowing the collected developer discharged from the lateral pipe 42 to be received by the second collection pipe 44R. Further, the second collection pipe 44R includes a second collection receiving opening 44bR provided at the other end side with respect to the end of the second collection pipe 44R for allowing the collected developer to be discharged from the second collection pipe 44R toward the second developer collection container 10R.

Inside (in a hollow portion) of the second collection pipe 44R, a second collection screw 45R as a second collection feeding member is provided. In the present embodiment, the second collection screw 45R is constituted by a shaftless screw conveyor (spring auger) rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction along the extending direction (substantially horizontal direction) of the second collection pipe 44R. In the present embodiment, the second collecting helix 45R has a helical shape having the winding direction as one direction. The second collection screw 45R feeds the collected developer in the second collection pipe 44R while agitating the collected developer. As shown in fig. 6, the second collection screw 45R is rotationally driven by transmitting a rotational driving force from the second collection driving portion 6R. In the present embodiment, the second collection driving portion 6R is constituted by including a second collection driving motor 61R as a driving source and a second collection driving power train (single gear or a plurality of gears or the like) 62R for transmitting the driving force from the second collection driving motor 61R to the second collection screw 45R. In the present embodiment, the second collection drive motor 61R is disposed in the vicinity of the rear-side end portion below the second collection pipe 44R, and the second collection drive power train 62R is connected to the rear-side end portion of the second collection screw 45R. The second collection driving motor 61R of the second collection driving portion 6R rotates in a predetermined direction. Thereby, the second collection driving portion 6R rotationally drives the second collection screw 45R in a predetermined direction. As described above, the second collection screw 45R has a spiral shape having the winding direction in one direction, and rotates in a predetermined direction, thereby feeding the collected developer from the rear side end side toward the front side end side in the second collection pipe 44R. Therefore, the developer collecting device 1 includes a second collecting screw 45R for feeding the collected developer in the second collecting pipe 44R. The second collection screw 45R includes a spiral portion whose winding direction is such that the collected developer is fed in the following manner. That is, the second collection screw 45R rotates in a predetermined direction about the rotation axis along the extending direction of the second collection pipe 44R, thereby feeding the collected developer from one end portion side (rear end portion side) toward the other end portion side (front end portion side) along the rotation axis. In addition, in the present embodiment, the developer collecting apparatus 1 includes the second collection driving portion 6R for rotationally driving the second collection screw 45R.

Incidentally, the following configuration may also be adopted, in which: the first and second collection pipes 44L and 44R are not provided, and the collected developer is sent directly from the lateral pipe 42 to the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R, for example. In the case where the first and second collection pipes 44L and 44R are provided, these pipes can function as buffers each capable of holding the collected developer in a predetermined amount between the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R. For example, even in the case where both the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R become full, when the number of times of image formation is less than a predetermined value or the like, image formation can be continued until the amount of collected developer reaches a predetermined amount by which the first and second collection pipes 44L and 44R can be held as buffers. Then, after the end of the job, the operator can be prompted to replace the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R.

Here, in the present embodiment, the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R are provided with the first and second container receiving openings 12L and 12R at the upper side portions at the front side end portions in a state where the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R are arranged at predetermined positions within the apparatus main assembly 110. These first and second container receiving openings 12L and 12R are openings for allowing the collected developer discharged from the first and second collection discharge openings 44bL and 44bR to be received into the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R, respectively. When the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are mounted at predetermined positions within the apparatus main assembly 110, the first and second container receiving openings 12L and 12R are disposed at positions corresponding to the first and second collection and discharge portions 44bL and 44bR, respectively. Thereby, the interiors of the first and second collection pipes 44L and 44R and the interiors of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R communicate with each other. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, at the front-side end portions of the first and second collection pipes 44L and 44R, there are provided first and second shutter members 46L and 46R for switching the open and closed states of the first and second collection discharge openings 44bL and 44bR, respectively. These first and second shutter members 46L and 46R are provided on the first and second collection pipes 44L and 44R, respectively, in a manner slidable (movable) in the front-rear direction, and are urged in a direction from the rear side toward the front side by a shutter urging spring (not shown). Further, immediately before the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are to be mounted at predetermined positions in the apparatus main assembly 110, engaging portions (not shown) provided on the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are engaged with the first and second shutter members 46L and 46R, respectively. Then, the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are further inserted to a predetermined position within the apparatus main assembly 110, so that the first and second shutter members 46L and 46R are moved toward the rear side against the urging force of the above-described shutter urging spring and are thus opened. When the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are moved out from the predetermined position in the apparatus main assembly 110 by the operation reverse to the above operation, the first and second shutter members 46L and 46R are closed by the urging force of the above-described shutter urging spring. Incidentally, the shutter member is not limited to a shutter member that opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the developer collection container, but may also be opened and closed by an appropriate actuator, for example. Further, the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R may also be provided with shutter members for opening and closing the first and second container receiving openings 12L and 12R in conjunction with, for example, the above-described mounting operation and dismounting operation.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, in the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R, first and second container screws 13L and 13R as container feeding members are provided for feeding the collected developer contained in the collected developer containing portions 11L and 11R, respectively. In the present embodiment, the first and second container screws 13L and 13R are configured to feed the collected developer from the front side to the rear side in a state where the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are arranged at predetermined positions within the apparatus main assembly 110. In the present embodiment, each of the first and second container screws 13L and 13R includes a rotating shaft portion and a screw blade portion spirally formed around the rotating shaft portion. At the rear-side end of the rotating shaft portion of each of the first and second container screws 13L and 13R, a drive receiving portion is provided. Further, when the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R are mounted at predetermined positions within the apparatus main assembly 110, the drive receiving portions are connected to the first and second couplers 63L and 63R provided on the apparatus main assembly 110 side, respectively. In the present embodiment, a rotational driving force is transmitted from the above-described first and second collection driving portions 6L and 6R to these first and second couplings 63L and 63R, respectively, thereby rotating the first and second couplings 63L and 63R. Thereby, the first and second container screws 13L and 13R rotate in conjunction with the first and second collection screws 45L and 45R, respectively, to feed the collected developer in the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R.

Incidentally, as shown in fig. 8, the first and second couplings 63L and 63R are provided so as to be exposed from first and second container opposing portions 122L and 122R, respectively, which will be described later.

< Container sensor, etc. >

In fig. 8, there are shown first and second container opposing portions 122L and 122R opposing the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R at the rear side end portions of the first and second container mounting portions 119L and 119R (portion (b) of fig. 3) of the apparatus main assembly 110.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the first and second container opposing portions 122L and 122R are provided with first and second container sensors 7L and 7R as container detection means for detecting the presence or absence (attached or detached state) of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R, respectively. In the present embodiment, the first and second container sensors 7L and 7R are constituted by mechanical switches by which a signal output to a controller 150 (fig. 11) described later is changed according to the pressing state or the released pressing state. The controller 150 can control the driving portion 5 according to the detection results of the first and second tank sensors 7L and 7R. When the first developer collection container 10L is disposed at a predetermined position within the apparatus main assembly 110, that is, at a position at which the first collection discharge opening 44bL and the first container receiving opening 12bL communicate with each other, the first container sensor 7L is urged by the first developer collection container 10L. Thereby, the controller 150 can detect that the first developer collection container 10L is arranged at the predetermined position. Further, when the first developer collection container 10L is moved (removed) from the predetermined position, the pressing of the first developer collection container 10L against the first container sensor 7L is released. Thereby, the controller 150 can detect that the first developer collection container 10L is moved from the predetermined position. Also, the controller 150 can detect that the second developer collecting container 10R is disposed at a predetermined position or that the second developer collecting container 10R is moved from a predetermined position by a signal of the second container sensor 7R. Incidentally, the container detection means is not limited to a mechanical switch, but may also be constituted by an optical sensor or the like.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the first and second container opposing portions 122L and 122R are provided with first and second full-load (state) sensors 8L and 8R as collected developer detecting means for detecting whether the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R become full. In the present embodiment, the first and second full load sensors 8L and 8R are constituted by optical sensors for detecting signals that are output to the controller 150 (fig. 11) and that change in accordance with the transmission or non-transmission state of the detection light. The controller 150 can control the driving portion 5 according to the detection results of the first and second full load sensors 8L and 8R. In the present embodiment, each of the first and second full load sensors 8L and 8R includes a light emitting (projecting) portion for emitting detection light and a light receiving portion capable of receiving the detection light emitted from the light emitting portion. When the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R are arranged at predetermined positions within the apparatus main assembly 110, each of detection window portions (not shown) capable of allowing transmission of detection light and provided on these containers is arranged between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. When a predetermined (preset) amount of collected developer corresponding to the fully loaded state is accommodated in the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R, the collected developer enters into the detection window portion. For this reason, in the case where the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R become full of the collected developer, the detection light of each of the first and second full-load sensors 8L and 8R is blocked by the collected developer within the detection window portion. Thereby, the controller 150 can detect that the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R become filled with the collected developer. Incidentally, the collected developer detecting means is not limited to the optical sensor, but may also be constituted by, for example, a weight sensor.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the first and second container opposing portions 122L and 122R are provided with the first and second locking members 9L and 9R, respectively, as holding members that prevent the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R from being inadvertently moved in the removal direction. When the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are mounted at predetermined positions in the apparatus main assembly 110, the first and second locking members 9L and 9R are engaged with engaging portions provided on the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R, respectively. The engagement of the first and second locking members 9L and 9R with the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R is performed to prevent the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R from being inadvertently moved mainly due to the urging force of the above-described shutter urging spring. Therefore, this engagement can be easily released by the force applied by the operator to move the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R for the purpose of disassembling these containers.

4. Control mode

Fig. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing a control mode of a main portion of the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the apparatus main assembly 110 of the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a controller 150. The controller 150 is constituted by including the following devices: a CPU 151 as a calculation (processing) control device which is a central element for performing arithmetic processing, a memory (storage medium) 152 (e.g., RAM or ROM) as a storage device, and an input/output circuit (not shown) through which signals are input and output between the controller 150 and the respective sections, and the like. In the RAM as a rewritable memory, information input to the controller 150, detection information, calculation results, and the like are stored; in the ROM, a data table and the like obtained in advance are stored. Between the CPU 151 and the memory 152 such as a RAM or a ROM, transfer and reading of data can be performed.

The respective portions of the imaging section G are connected to the controller 150. Further, the driving portion 5, the first and second driving portions 6L and 6R, the first and second container sensors 7L and 7R, the first and second full load sensors 8L and 8R, and the like of the developer collecting apparatus 1 are connected to the controller 150. Further, an operation portion (operation panel) 130 provided on the image forming apparatus 100 is connected to the controller 150. The operation section 130 includes a display section (e.g., a liquid crystal panel) as a display device that displays information by control of the controller 150, and an input section (e.g., a key) as an input device that inputs information to the controller 150 by operation of an operator such as a user or a serviceman. The operation portion 130 may be configured by including a touch panel having functions of a display portion and an input portion. Further, an image reading device (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 100 or connected to the image forming apparatus 100 and an external device (for example, a personal computer) connected to the image forming apparatus 100 may be connected to the controller 150.

The controller 150 comprehensively controls the respective parts of the imaging section G according to instructions and information from the operation section 130 of the imaging apparatus 100 and the external device, so that the controller 150 can cause the imaging section G to perform an imaging operation. In addition, the controller 150 can comprehensively control the respective portions of the developer collecting apparatus 1 so that the controller 150 causes the respective portions to perform a feeding operation of feeding the collected developer to the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R, an operation of prompting the operator to replace the respective containers, and the like. The controller 150 may also be regarded as a constituent part of the developer collecting apparatus 1.

5. Operation of developer collecting apparatus

Next, an operation of feeding the collected developer to the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R by the developer collection device 1 in the present embodiment will be described. Here, the operation of the developer collecting apparatus 1 when the collected developer is fed to each of the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R will be described. A specific example of the operation sequence of the developer collecting device 1 (including switching the feeding destination of the collected developer) will be described later.

Table 1 is an outline of the operation states of the driving portion 5 and the first and second collection driving portions 6L and 6R in the feeding operation of the collected developer to each of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R in the present embodiment. This operation is performed by controlling the driving portion 5 and the first and second collection driving portions 6L and 6R by the controller 150 according to a program stored in the memory 152.

TABLE 1

*1: "FDC" refers to a feeding destination container.

*2: "DPRD" is the direction of rotation of the drive section.

*3: "DOSCDP" is the drive of the second collection drive portion.

*4: "DOFCPD" is the drive of the first collection drive section.

*5: "FC" is the first vessel.

*6: "SC" is the second container.

< feeding operation to first developer collecting container 10L >

Fig. 9 shows a flow of the collected developer in a case where the collected developer is fed to the first developer collection container 10L provided on the left side. The developer collecting device 1 sends the collected developer from the image forming portion G to the downstream feeding portion 4 through the upstream feeding portion 3 in the above-described manner. The collected developer sent to the downstream feeding portion 4 passes through the vertical pipe 41 and moves into the lateral pipe 42. When the collected developer is fed to the first developer collection container 10L, the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5 performs a normal rotation operation, and a driving force is transmitted from the drive portion 5 to the feed screw 43 in the lateral pipe 42, so that the feed screw 43 rotates in the first direction. Thereby, the feed screw 43 feeds the collected developer inside the lateral pipe 42 in the direction from the right side to the left side. At this time, in conjunction with the normal rotation operation of the drive motor 51 of the drive section 5, not only the first collection drive motor 61L of the first collection drive section 6L performs the rotation operation, but also the second collection drive motor 61R of the second collection drive section 6R is in the rest state.

Thereby, the collected developer fed by the feed screw 43 in the lateral pipe 42 and sent to the first collection pipe 44L is then sent to the first developer collection container 10L by being fed by the first collection screw 45L in the first collection pipe 44L. On the other hand, the collected developer sent from the vertical pipe 41 to the lateral pipe 42 is not fed in the direction from the left side toward the right side. Further, the collected developer is not fed into the second collecting pipe 44R.

Therefore, in the case where the developer collecting device 1 feeds the collected developer to the first developer collecting container 10L during the operation of the image forming apparatus 100, even if the second developer collecting container 10R is detached from the apparatus main assembly 110 for replacement, the collected developer can be suppressed from leaking from the periphery of the second developer collecting container 10R and flying into the apparatus main assembly 110. That is, according to the present embodiment, when the collected developer is fed to the first developer collection container 10L, the collected developer sent out from the image forming portion G does not pass through the feeding passage toward the second developer collection container 10R. Therefore, even in the case where the second developer collection container 10R is detached, the risk of leakage and scattering of the collected developer from the feeding passage toward the second developer collection container 10R can be reduced.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the second collection pipe 44R is provided with the second shutter member 46R, but it is also possible to omit this shutter member and simplify the structure of the shutter member due to the risk reduction effect on leakage and scattering of the collected developer as described above.

< feeding operation to second developer collecting container 10R >

Fig. 10 shows a flow of the collected developer in a case where the collected developer is fed to the second developer collection container 10R disposed on the right side. The developer collecting device 1 sends the collected developer from the image forming portion G to the downstream feeding portion 4 through the upstream feeding portion 3 in the above-described manner. The collected developer sent to the downstream feeding portion 4 passes through the vertical pipe 41 and moves into the lateral pipe 42. When the collected developer is fed to the second developer collection container 10R, the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5 performs a reverse rotation operation, and a driving force is transmitted from the drive portion 5 to the feed screw 43 in the lateral pipe 42, so that the feed screw 43 rotates in the first direction. Thereby, the feed screw 43 feeds the collected developer in the lateral pipe 42 in the direction from the left side to the right side. At this time, in conjunction with the reverse rotation operation of the drive motor 51 of the drive section 5, not only the second collection drive motor 61R of the second collection drive section 6R is rotationally operated, but also the first collection drive motor 61L of the first collection drive section 6L is in a rest state.

Thereby, the collected developer that is fed by the feed screw 43 in the lateral pipe 42 and sent to the second collection pipe 44R is then sent to the second developer collection container 10R by being fed by the second collection screw 45R in the second collection pipe 44R. On the other hand, the collected developer sent from the vertical pipe 41 to the lateral pipe 42 is not fed in the direction from the right side toward the left side. Further, the collected developer is not fed into the first collection pipe 44L either.

Therefore, in the case where the developer collecting device 1 feeds the collected developer to the second developer collecting container 10R during the operation of the image forming apparatus 100, even if the first developer collecting container 10L is detached from the apparatus main assembly 110 for replacement, the collected developer can be suppressed from leaking from the periphery of the first developer collecting container 10L and flying into the apparatus main assembly 110. That is, according to the present embodiment, when the collected developer is fed to the second developer collection container 10R, the collected developer sent out from the image forming portion G does not pass through the feeding passage toward the first developer collection container 10L. Therefore, even in the case where the first developer collection container 10L is detached, the risk of leakage and scattering of the collected developer from the feeding passage toward the first developer collection container 10L can be reduced.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the first collecting pipe 44L is provided with the first shutter member 46L, which can be omitted and the structure of which simplified similarly to the case of the above-described second shutter member 46R.

Therefore, the developer collecting apparatus 1 includes a controller 150 for controlling the driving portion 5 and the first and second collecting driving portions 6L and 6R. Further, when the feed screw 43 is rotationally driven in the first direction by the driving portion 5, the controller 150 performs control such that not only the first collection screw 45L is rotationally driven by the first collection driving portion 6L but also the second collection screw 45R is rotationally driven by the second collection driving portion 6R. In addition, when the feed screw 43 is rotationally driven in the second direction by the driving portion 5, the controller 150 performs control so that not only the rotational driving of the first collection screw 45L by the first collection driving portion 6L is stopped but also the rotational driving of the second collection screw 45R by the second collection driving portion 6R is stopped.

6. Operation sequence of developer collecting apparatus

Next, a specific example of the operation sequence of the developer collecting apparatus 1 (including switching the feeding destination of the collected developer in the developer collecting apparatus 1) will be described. Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation sequence. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the operation of switching the feeding destination of the collected developer during execution of the continuous image forming job will be described on the premise that the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are arranged at predetermined positions within the apparatus main assembly 110. Incidentally, this job is a series of jobs for forming and outputting images on a single recording material P or a plurality of recording materials P by a single start instruction. In addition, hereinafter, although the explanation is omitted, the controller 150 also performs control of the above-described first and second collection driving portions 6L and 6R in conjunction with the operation of the control driving portion 5. In addition, hereinafter, although the description is omitted, the discharge screw 37 of the upstream feeding portion 3 is continuously rotationally driven during image formation, and when the image formation job is ended (or interrupted), the driving of the discharge screw 35 is stopped.

When a job is input and an image forming job is started (S101), the controller 150 discriminates whether or not the feeding destination of the collected developer is the first developer collection container 10L based on the information stored in the memory 152 (S102). Incidentally, each time the feeding destination of the collected developer is switched, the controller 150 causes the memory 152 to store information on the current feeding destination of the collected developer. In a case where the controller 150 recognizes in S102 that the current feeding destination of the collected developer is not the first developer collection container 10L ("no"), the operation sequence proceeds to the process of S112. In addition, in a case where the controller 150 recognizes in S102 that the current feeding destination of the collected developer is the first developer collection container 10L ("yes"), the controller 150 causes the drive motor 51 of the drive section 5 to rotate forward (forward rotation operation) (S103). Then, based on the signal from the first full load sensor 8L, the controller 150 discriminates whether or not the first developer collection container 10L is full (whether or not the signal of the first full load sensor 8L is no) (S104). In the case where the controller 150 recognizes in S104 that the first developer collection container 10L is not full ("no"), the controller 150 causes the image forming section G to continue the image forming operation (S105). Then, the controller 150 discriminates whether or not there is an image that has not been output yet in the job (S106). Further, in a case where the controller 150 recognizes in S106 that there is an image that has not been output ("yes"), the operation sequence returns to S104, and in a case where the controller 150 recognizes in S106 that there is no image that has not been output ("no"), the controller 150 causes the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5 to stop its driving (S107). Then, the controller 150 ends the image forming operation, and thus sends the job (S108). In addition, when the controller 150 recognizes in S104 that the first developer collection container 10L is full (yes), the controller 150 recognizes whether the second developer collection container 10R is full (no of the signal of the second full sensor 8R) based on the signal from the second full sensor 8R (S109). In a case where the controller 150 recognizes in S109 that the second developer collection container 10R is full ("yes"), the controller 150 stops the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5 (S110). Then, the controller 150 interrupts the image forming operation (S111). In S111, the controller 150 can cause the operating portion 130 (or a display portion of an external apparatus or the like) to display information for notifying the operator that the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are both in the full state.

On the other hand, in a case where the controller 150 recognizes in S109 that the second developer collection container 10R is not full ("no"), the controller 150 switches the rotation direction of the drive motor of the drive portion 5, and reverses the drive motor 51 (reverse operation) (S112). Thereby, the feeding destination of the collected developer is switched from the first developer collection container 10L to the second developer collection container 10R. Incidentally, also in the case where the controller 150 recognizes in S102 that the current feeding destination of the collected developer is not the first developer collection container 10L ("no"), the controller 150 reverses the drive motor of the drive portion 5 (reverse operation) (S112). Then, based on the signal from the second full load sensor 8R, the controller 150 discriminates whether or not the second developer collection container 10R becomes full (whether or not the signal of the second full load sensor 8R is no) (S113). In a case where the controller 150 recognizes in S113 that the first developer collection container 10L is not full ("no"), the controller 150 causes the image forming portion G to continue the image forming operation (S114). Then, the controller 150 discriminates whether or not there is an image that has not been output in the job (S115), in the case where the controller 150 discriminates in S115 that there is an image that has not been output ("yes"), the operation sequence returns to S113, and in the case where the controller 150 discriminates in S115 that there is no image that has not been output ("no"), the controller 150 causes the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5 to stop its driving (S116). Then, the controller 150 ends the image forming operation, and thus sends a job (S117). In addition, when the controller 150 recognizes in S113 that the second developer collection container 10R is full ("yes"), the controller 150 recognizes whether the first developer collection container 10L is full (whether the signal of the first full sensor 8L is "no") (S118) based on the signal from the first full sensor 8L. In the case where the controller 150 recognizes in S118 that the first developer collection container 10L is not full ("no"), the operation sequence proceeds to S103. That is, the controller 150 switches the rotational direction of the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5, and thus causes the drive motor to rotate forward (forward rotation operation), so that the feeding destination at which the developer is collected is switched from the second developer collection container 10R to the first developer collection container 10L. In addition, in a case where the controller 150 recognizes in S118 that the second developer collection container 10R is full ("yes"), the controller 150 stops the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5 (S119). Then, the controller 150 interrupts the image forming operation (S120). In S120, the controller 150 can cause the operating portion 130 (or a display portion of an external apparatus or the like) to display information for notifying the operator that both the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are in the full state.

In addition, in the case where the container as the feeding destination of the collected developer is switched by switching the rotation direction of the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5 in S112 and S103, the controller 150 can perform the following control. That is, the controller 150 can cause the operation portion 130 (or a display portion of an external device or the like) to display information notifying (prompting) that it is necessary for the operator to change the container that is full. At this time, the notification need not be made immediately during image formation, but may be made after the end of the job.

In addition, after the end of the job, the developer collecting apparatus 1 is operated to feed the collected developer toward the full container, and the collected developer remaining on, for example, the collecting pipe 44 corresponding to the full container may also be fed into the container. In this way, it is possible to suppress the collected developer in the collection pipe 44 from being left behind and from coalescing or the like.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, although the description is omitted for the sake of simplicity, the controller 150 can control the image forming operation and the operation of the developer collecting apparatus 1 based on the signals from the first and second container sensors 7L and 7R. For example, when an instruction to start a job is provided, in a case where the controller 150 recognizes that neither the first nor second developer collection containers is mounted, the controller 150 can control the image forming section G so as not to start the image forming operation. Further, for example, when it is detected that either one of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R is in a full state, the controller 150 can control the image forming portion G so as to interrupt the image forming operation in the case where it is detected that the other container is not mounted. In either case, the controller 150 can cause the operation portion 130 (or a display portion of an external device or the like) to display information prompting the operator to install the corresponding container.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the case where one of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R becomes full, the feeding destination of the collected developer is switched to the other container, so that the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R are alternately used. Thus, even if one container becomes full during the image forming operation, the container can be replaced without stopping the image forming operation. Further, according to the present embodiment, even in the case where one container is replaced during the image forming operation as described above, it is possible to suppress leakage and scattering of the collected developer from the periphery of the container into the apparatus main assembly 110.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the configuration in which the collected developer is selectively collected into the plurality of developer collection containers, the risk of leakage and scattering of the collected developer can be reduced.

[ example 2]

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configurations of the developer collecting device 1 and the image forming apparatus 100 are the same as those in embodiment 1. In the developer collecting device 1 and the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, elements having functions and configurations the same as or corresponding to those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols as those in embodiment 1 and description will be omitted.

1. Developer collecting apparatus

In embodiment 1, the developer collecting apparatus 1 is configured such that the first and second collecting screws 45L and 45R are rotationally driven by a driving portion (driving source) instead of the feed screw 43. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the first and second collection screws 45L and 45R may also be rotationally driven by transmitting a driving force to the feed screw 43.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the developer collecting device 1 in the present embodiment as viewed from an oblique front side (in which the first and second developer collecting containers 10L and 10R connected to the developer collecting device 1 are also shown). Further, fig. 14 is a sectional view similar to that taken along the X-X line of fig. 4 of the developer collecting device 1 in the present embodiment shown in fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a sectional view similar to that taken along the Y-Y line of fig. 4 of the developer collecting device 1 in the present embodiment shown in fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a part of the developer collecting apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, as viewed from an oblique rear side, in which the drive transmission paths to the first and second collecting screws 45L and 45R are shown.

As shown in fig. 13 and 16, the feed screw 43 is rotationally driven by transmitting a rotational driving force thereto from the driving portion 5. In the present embodiment, the driving portion 5 is constituted by including a driving motor 51 as a driving source and a driving power train (a single gear or a plurality of gears, etc.) 52 for transmitting a driving force from the driving motor 51 to the feed screw 43. In the present embodiment, a drive source (drive motor) 51 is disposed at the left-hand end of the lateral pipe 42, and a drive transmission 52 is connected to the left-hand end of the feed screw 43.

In addition, as shown in fig. 13 and 16, linear first and second shaft portions 43a and 43b formed at (or connected to) left and right end portions of the feed screw 43 with respect to the rotational axis direction extend to the outside of the lateral pipe 42. Further, the first and second drive transmitting portions 20L and 20R are provided so as to be capable of being drivingly connected with the first and second shaft portions 43a and 43b, respectively. In the present embodiment, the first drive transmitting portion 20L is constituted by including a first one-way clutch gear 21L (which serves as a drive force blocking member) and a first collection drive power train (single gear or multiple gears, etc.) 22L. The first one-way clutch gear 21L is arranged on the first shaft portion 43a of the feed screw 43 in a manner capable of transmitting drive, and is constituted by press-fitting a one-way clutch to an inner diameter portion thereof. In addition, the first collection drive power train 22L is configured such that the rotational drive force from the first one-way clutch gear 21L is transmitted to the first collection screw 45L. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the first collection drive power train 22L is configured such that drive is also transmitted to the first coupling 63L. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the second drive transmitting portion 20R is constituted by including a second one-way clutch gear 21R (which serves as a driving force blocking member) and a second collection drive power train (single gear or multiple gears, etc.) 22R. The second one-way clutch gear 21R is arranged on the second shaft portion 43b of the feed screw 43 in a drive transmittable manner, and is constituted by press-fitting the one-way clutch to an inner diameter portion thereof. In addition, the second collection drive power train 22R is configured such that the rotational drive force from the second one-way clutch gear 21R is transmitted to the second collection screw 45R. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the second collection drive train 22R is configured to transmit drive to the second coupling 63R as well.

The first one-way clutch gear 21L is configured such that when the feed screw 43 rotates in the first direction (the direction in which the collected developer is fed toward the first developer collection container 10L), the first one-way clutch gear 21L rotates together and transmits the driving force to the downstream side. In addition, the second one-way clutch gear 21R is configured to rotate the feed screw 43 in the second direction (the direction in which the collected developer is fed toward the second developer collection container 10R), the second one-way clutch gear 21R rotates together and transmits the driving force to the downstream side.

2. Operation of developer collecting apparatus

Next, a feeding operation of feeding the collected developer to the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R by the developer collection device 1 in the present embodiment will be described. Here, portions different from embodiment 1 will be mainly described. Table 2 is an outline of the operation states of the driving portion 5 and the first and second collection screws 45L and 45R in the feeding operation in which the collected developer is fed to each of the first and second developer collection containers 10L and 10R in the present embodiment. This operation is performed by controlling the driving section 5 by the controller 150 according to a program stored in the memory 152.

TABLE 2

*1: "FDC" refers to a feeding destination container.

*2: "DPRD" is the direction of rotation of the drive section.

*3: "ROSCDP" is the rotation of the second collection drive section.

*4: "ROFCDP" is the rotation of the first collection drive portion.

*5: "FC" refers to the first vessel.

*6: "SC" is the second container.

< feeding operation to first developer collecting container 10L >

Fig. 17 shows a flow of the collected developer in a case where the collected developer is fed to the first developer collection container 10L provided on the left side. In the present embodiment, when the collected developer is fed to the first developer collection container 10L, the first one-way clutch gear 21L is rotated in the drive transmission direction in synchronization with the rotation of the feed screw 43 in the first direction by the normal rotation operation of the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5. Then, the driving force is transmitted from the first one-way clutch gear 21L to the first collection drive power train 22L, so that the first collection screw 45L is rotated. On the other hand, the second one-way clutch gear 21R interrupts the drive and thus does not transmit the drive force to the second collection drive power train 22R, so the second collection screw 45R remains inactive.

Thereby, the collected developer fed by the feed screw 43 in the lateral pipe 42 and sent to the first collection pipe 44L is then sent to the first developer collection container 10L by being fed by the first collection screw 45L in the first collection pipe 44L. On the other hand, the collected developer sent from the vertical pipe 41 to the lateral pipe 42 is not fed in the direction from the left side toward the right side. Further, the collected developer is not fed into the second collecting pipe 44R.

Therefore, in the case where the developer collecting device 1 feeds the collected developer to the first developer collecting container 10L during the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, even if the second developer collecting container 10R is detached from the apparatus main assembly 110 for replacement, the collected developer can be suppressed from leaking from the periphery of the second developer collecting container 10R and scattering into the apparatus main assembly 110.

< feeding operation to second developer collecting container 10R >

Fig. 18 shows a flow of the collected developer in a case where the collected developer is fed to the second developer collection container 10R provided on the right side. In the present embodiment, when the collected developer is fed to the first developer collection container 10R, the second one-way clutch gear 21R rotates in the drive transmission direction in synchronization with the rotation of the feed screw 43 in the second direction by the reverse rotation operation of the drive motor 51 of the drive portion 5. Then, the driving force is transmitted from the second one-way clutch gear 21R to the second collection drive power train 22R, so that the second collection screw 45R is rotated. On the other hand, the first one-way clutch gear 21L interrupts the drive and thus does not transmit the driving force to the first collection drive power train 22L, so the first collection screw 45L remains inactive.

Thereby, the collected developer that is fed by the feed screw 43 in the lateral pipe 42 and sent to the second collection pipe 44R is sent to the second developer collection container 10R by being fed by the second collection screw 45R in the second collection pipe 44R. On the other hand, the collected developer sent from the vertical pipe 41 to the lateral pipe 42 is not fed in the direction from the right side toward the left side. Further, the collected developer is not fed into the first collection pipe 44L.

Therefore, in the case where the developer collecting device 1 feeds the collected developer to the second developer collecting container 10R during the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, even if the first developer collecting container 10L is detached from the apparatus main assembly 110 for replacement, the collected developer can be suppressed from leaking from the periphery of the first developer collecting container 10L and scattering into the apparatus main assembly 110.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the developer collecting apparatus 1 includes the first drive transmission portion 20L which is capable of not only transmitting the driving force transmitted from the driving portion 5 to the feed screw 43 to the first collection screw 45L but also interrupting the transmission of the driving force. Further, the developer collecting apparatus 1 includes a second drive transmission portion 20R which is capable of not only transmitting the driving force transmitted from the driving portion 5 to the feed screw 43 to the second collecting screw 45R but also interrupting the transmission of the driving force. In addition, when the feed screw 43 is rotationally driven in the first direction by the drive portion 5, the first drive transmission portion 20L transmits the driving force from the feed screw 43 to the first collection screw 45L, and the second drive transmission portion 20R transmits the driving force from the feed screw 43 to the second collection screw 45R. In addition, when the feed screw 43 is rotationally driven in the second direction, the first drive transmission portion 20L interrupts transmission of the driving force from the feed screw 43 to the first collection screw 45L, and the second drive transmission portion 20R transmits the driving force from the feed screw 43 to the second collection screw 45R.

Incidentally, the operation sequence of the developer collecting device 1 in the present embodiment can be made similar to that of embodiment 1 described with reference to fig. 12. However, in the present embodiment, the operations of the first and second collection driving portions 6L and 6R are not controlled in conjunction with the control of the operation of the feed screw 43 by the driving portion 5.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, not only can effects similar to those of embodiment 1 be obtained, but also simplification of the configuration of the developer collecting device 1 can be achieved in the present embodiment more largely than embodiment 1.

(other embodiments)

The present invention is described based on the above specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the pipe connecting the main discharge pipe 36 and the lateral pipe 42 is only the single vertical pipe 41 is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the main exhaust pipe 36 and the lateral pipe 42 may also be connected to each other by a plurality of vertical pipes through which the collected developer may also be fed. In this case, these vertical tubes may only need to be configured to connect to the lateral tubes 42 between the first and second lateral tube discharge openings 42b and 42 c.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus is a tandem type color image forming apparatus employing an intermediate transfer type, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the image forming apparatus may also be a tandem type color image forming apparatus of a direct transfer type. As well known to those skilled in the art, such an image forming apparatus includes a recording material carrying member (a feeding belt constituted by an endless belt or the like) for carrying and feeding a recording material in place of the intermediate transfer member in the above-described embodiment. In addition, the toner images formed on the image bearing members of the plurality of stations are successively transferred onto the recording material carried and fed by the recording material carrying member, and after the transfer, the recording material is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus. In such an image forming apparatus, an image forming portion includes various stations, a recording material carrying member, and a fixing device. Further, the image forming apparatus may also be a so-called single-drum type color image forming apparatus in which each of toner images of a plurality of colors is successively transferred onto a single image bearing member and then onto an intermediate transfer member or a recording material carrying member. In this image forming apparatus, an image forming portion includes a toner image forming portion (corresponding to a station) for forming a toner image on a single image bearing member, an intermediate transfer member (or a recording material carrying member), and a fixing device. Further, the image forming apparatus may also be a monochrome image forming apparatus. In this case, the image forming portion includes a toner image forming portion (corresponding to a station) for forming a toner image on a single image bearing member, and a fixing device.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.